The Our Land Collection
A collaboration between Badan and Halaballoo to create a collection infused with the vision of a free Palestine. Each piece tells its own story below.
As we designed this collection, we reflected on what tatreez meant to us. It connected us to the homeland and allowed us to imagine the possibilities of living in a world with a free Palestine.We intentionally infused these reflections into this collection to create a way for Palestinians and allies in the diaspora to connect with their roots, wear meaningful pieces, and reflect on the inevitability of a free land.
Collection Duration 3/1/2023–12/31/2023
The Story Behind Each Piece
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The Village (Ivory)
Inspired by traditional thobes from the Ramallah region, this design is a miniature version of a Qaba (chest panel). It pulls on motifs that would normally be seen in a Qaba including the Harp motif in the heart of the design which incorporates two birds facing away from each other, and the Tall Palm motif placed in the corners which is a motif often seen in many Ramallah thobe panels.
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Roots of The Homeland
In this design, we incorporated different flower, tree, fruit, and plant motifs originating from Ramallah, Hebron, Beit Dajan, Lydda, Ramleh, Bethlehem, Beersheeba, Sinai, Gaza, and Jaffa.We wanted any person wearing this to feel represented. These motifs remind us what it’s like to walk down the streets of Palestine and see gardens growing alongside home fences. These flowers and trees are not just pieces of our land, but they remind us that the land is indeed ours and that we will return soon to tend to them.
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The Village (Red)
Inspired by traditional thobes from the Ramallah region, this design is a miniature version of a Qaba (chest panel). It pulls on motifs that would normally be seen in a Qaba including the Harp motif in the heart of the design which incorporates two birds facing away from each other, and the Tall Palm motif placed in the corners which is a motif often seen in many Ramallah thobe panels.
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A Freed Palestine
What would Palestine look like if it was free today? Not tomorrow or someday soon, but today. When was the last time you really allowed yourself to imagine and believe that?
We often hear the phrase 'Falasteen Hurra' which means Palestine is free in Arabic, but there’s just something about saying 'Falasteen Taharrart' (aka Palestine has been freed) that drives chills down our spine. It makes us imagine a day when we get to roll up our sleeves and build Palestine up the way our grandfathers and grandmothers would’ve wanted us to. That’s exactly where the idea for this design was born.
The calligraphy translates to “Palestine has been freed,” and the motif alongside its border is meant to represent an olive branch motif originating from the Ramallah region.
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Poppies on a Free Land
The calligraphy on this tote translates to “Palestine has been freed,” and the flower motif alongside its border originates from the Ramleh and Ramallah areas. It reminds us of a poppy–Palestine’s national flower. It seemed fitting to add it to this design in hopes that we’ll see this beautiful flower bloom on free land.
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Call Me Falahi
Do you love hanging out with your teta (grandma) and hearing her stories? We designed this set specifically with this in mind. We wanted it to be a way for those of us in the diaspora to reconnect with our roots.
This design includes bird and land motifs originating from the Esdud and Ramallah regions. You can see the little chickens, roosters, and pigeons standing atop coffee beans and flowers just as you might find them doing so in a chicken coop or little farm back home.
It reminds us what it’s like to roll up our sleeves and learn to bake with teta while news from the T.V. is blasting in the background. It inspires us to spend time with family, learn our traditions, and soak up all we can with those we love while we have them.